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Saturday, February 27, 2016

Captain Blood: A Review

Speaking of pirates. Captain Blood is a 1935 film adaptation of a novel by the same name written by Rafael Sabatini with Errol Flynn starring as Peter Blood. Though the movie is black-and-white, it's a great fun to watch, and features adventure, humour and, of course, a love story. It's nearly two hours long but you won't be bored for a moment. Since it's a vintage film, there won't be much blood and gore or nudity or stuff like that so it's suitable for family entertainment.

For those who don't know what the story is all about: the original novel was based on historical events (Monmouth Rebellion), and though I read it long ago, I have an idea that this adaptation is more or less faithful to the original. Peter Blood, an Irish gentleman after a career in the army and the navy settles down in England where he works as a doctor. While some of his friends join the rebels, he refuses but later when he is asked to treat the wounded rebels can't deny them medical help for which he is arrested and sentenced to death by hanging.

However, King James II needs slaves to work in his oversees plantations in the Caribbean so he is transported to Jamaica (Barbados in the novel) together with his unlucky comrades where they are bought by the cruel Colonel Bishop to work in his sugar cane fields. Peter from the beginning has a rebellious attitude which catches attention of the colonel's niece, beautiful Arabella. She recommends his medical skills to the governor of the island who suffers from gout. Blood acquires freedom of movement and starts planning for escape but Bishop interferes.

At that moment, the Spanish attack the city of Port Royal and demand a huge sum of money as ransom. Little do they know that Blood and his men have captured their ship together with chests of gold and are planning the revenge. First, on the Spanish, and then on anyone, as they are now men without a country. Soon Peter Blood becomes the most famous and feared pirate of the whole Caribbean...

You can watch the whole movie at DailyMotion

Here is the original trailer:
Captain Blood 1935 Trailer

2 comments:

  1. Housewife from FinlandFebruary 27, 2016 at 5:39 AM

    Well that sounds exiting. I love Erroll Flynn, especially in "Robin Hood".

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  2. Never seen "Robin Hood" but it's also available on Daily Motion. He was a good actor, though from what I read an all around horrible person.

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